What needs to be done?

In 2012, The Roadmap to Close the Gap for Vision (the Roadmap) was developed by Indigenous Eye Health at the University of Melbourne outlining 42 interlocking recommendations to improve the eye health of Indigenous Australians.

Vision 2020 Australia has endorsed the Roadmap. Advocacy efforts are guided by its recommendations and advice from members working on the ground in Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander eye health and vision care.

The benefits

Following a coordinated approach, the Australian Government recently committed nearly $8 million to improve eye care coordination, monitor progress and help eliminate trachoma.

But while gains are being made in closing the gap, vision loss still accounts for 11 per cent of the health gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.

Implementing the recommendations in the Roadmap, in addition to the provision of current eye care services and programs, will help restore the sight or avoid future vision loss of 34,000 Indigenous Australians, closing the gap in Indigenous eye health, as highlighted in the PwC report: Value of Indigenous sight: An economic analysis.